Mr. Norris J. Bates passed away on May 1, 2024, at the Birmingham Veterans Hospital. He was born in Carroll County, Georgia on October 13, 1949, to Ezma Bradley Capes and Marlene Bates. Besides his parents, preceding him in death were brothers James & Jerry Bates, and sister Virginia Bisinger.
He is survived by his wife Bonnie Bates of Homewood AL, daughter Sandie (Jeff) Shackleford of Bremen, GA, and sons Brandon (Debra) Bates and Brian (Amy) Bates of Tallapoosa, GA, brother Billy Capes of Carrollton, and sisters Rita Downs of Bowdon, and Lisa Benefield of Heflin, AL along with 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Norris served in the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam Veteran. He was a hard worker and could repair even the most complicated machinery and electrical equipment. He spent his career working for Sewell Manufacturing, Southwire, AT&T/Lucent Technologies and eventually retired from GE Energy.
Norris loved to travel and collected many hats from all over the U.S. He liked to spend time watching westerns, and playing with his cat, Sassy. He made friends and touched the lives of many. He fought a long, hard battle but is no longer suffering.
The family will receive friends at a memorial service on Saturday, June 8th, 2pm at The Union on Odessa in Tallapoosa, Georgia. His children ask that in lieu of flowers a donation be made in his memory to Your Haven, Inc. to help those recovering from addiction.
Donations can be mailed to
Your Haven, PO Box 1010, Buchanan, GA 30113, or made online at:
www.yourhavenrecovery.com/donate/.
